Professional sport is a trying business, but it is difficult to imagine a more psychologically traumatic experience than the one Freddie Burns endured in the space of three minutes here. Twice, he contrived in the dying minutes to miss as easy a pair of opportunities to win a match that sport can offer, let alone…
Month: March 2019
Wales will not afford England a free ride to potential grand slam
The toll booths were removed from the Severn Bridge two months ago but granting a free ride to English rugby teams in Cardiff will never catch on. It explains why the Six Nations retains its passion and lustre, in defiance of societal changes and Britain’s shifting political sands. The desire to make England pay for…
Ellis Genge an injury worry for England’s Six Nations date with Wales
England have encountered further problems at loosehead prop in the buildup to their Six Nations match with Wales a week on Saturday after Ellis Genge picked up an ankle injury in training. Genge failed to finish Thursday’s training session because of soreness in an ankle and, while England are hopeful there will not be “any…
Ireland seek added flexibility and take leap of faith with Robbie Henshaw
If Dublin is to witness the battle of the skies as widely expected on Saturday, the team announcements came on Thursday with no little irony. Lining up in Dublin will be one faltering full-back, another from left field. Eddie Jones has kept faith with Elliot Daly; Joe Schmidt is taking a leap of it with…
Stuart Lancaster: ‘I haven’t decided if I’ll go to watch England play Ireland’
‘Pretty much everything has been given to Leinster and, indirectly, to Ireland,” Stuart Lancaster says when he considers how the knowledge he gained during seven years at the heart of English rugby has been jettisoned by his own country. The Leinster coach speaks without bitterness and, having reflected movingly on the recent death of his…
England v All Blacks, delicious drop shots and teen strikers
1) It’s England against the All Blacks at Twickenham this weekend, which is a rivalry of sorts … albeit deeply one-sided as New Zealand have won 16 of the 23 contests there since 1925. The Red Rose’s last victory was in 2012, featuring three tries in eight minutes and a show-stopping performance from Manu Tuilagi;…
Teenager apologises to Gareth Thomas over homophobic attack in Cardiff
South Wales police said a 16-year-old boy has admitted and apologised for assaulting the former Wales rugby player Gareth Thomas, who said he had been the victim of a homophobic attack in Cardiff. The former Wales rugby captain posted an emotional video on social media in which he said he had been attacked. Thomas, who…
Jacob Stockdale scores only try as Ireland earn historic win over All Blacks
Brutal does not even begin to describe the contest but, for Ireland, the outcome was as beautiful as any in their rugby history. For the first time they have beaten the All Blacks on Irish soil and not a single Kiwi can say it was undeserved. If New Zealand are still officially the world’s best…
Warren Gatland beefs up Wales bench in bid to turn tide against Australia
Wales may have lost their past 13 internationals to Australia but Warren Gatland has left three of his senior players on the bench for Saturday’sTest with the Wallabies in Cardiff along with the co-captains on last summer’s tour to Argentina. The Northampton fly-half Dan Biggar and the Saracens wing Liam Williams, who both toured New…
Eddie Jones finds a back-row trio who are singing from the same song sheet
In the beginning Eddie Jones made it look easy. He had an idea what was wrong with England’s back row, had even explained the problem in a column for the Daily Mail while Stuart Lancaster was still in charge, and he knew a quick fix for it too. When Jones took over as head coach…